Sarah Menkedick Knihy

This groundbreaking exposé reveals the silent epidemic of fear affecting new mothers, offering a feminist exploration of the culture, science, and psychology of contemporary motherhood. Fear is an escalating crisis among pregnant women and new mothers, with limited resources and support leading many to suffer from emotional conditions that extend beyond traditional postpartum depression. Often feeling isolated and unable to discern normalcy from distress, they grapple with overwhelming grief, anxiety, and obsession in the weeks and months following birth. This debilitating state, frequently overlooked by the medical community and society, is compounded by cultural taboos surrounding maternal unhappiness. Through extensive research, interviews, and her own experiences with anxiety, the author provides a comprehensive examination of the historical, biological, and societal factors contributing to the pervasive anxieties faced by mothers in America today. By courageously addressing the hidden struggles of motherhood, she argues that panic has come to dominate the experience, urging a reclamation of this vital role. With compassion and honesty, the author sheds light on the invisible challenges of motherhood and emphasizes the urgent need to expand awareness and care for women's lives.